Free beauty sessions lift up the spirits of the elderly in Dubai

Dubai - Though the pampering sessions were only for women, the men at the centre were excited to see the female counterparts getting makeovers.

The get-together of elderly at the Al Mamzar Community Centre for Elderly looked like a true family gathering with about 30 elderly in-house patients and out-patients in the lobby waiting for their pampering sessions. Armed with henna cones and smiles, the very arrival of the team lifted the mood of the residents of the centre.
The otherwise quieter lobby was transformed into a huge beauty centre as a team of beauticians from Dubai-based Rachna Salon surprised the senior citizens with free beauty services like massage, henna decoration, hair colouring and more.
Saeeda, 65, was excited about getting the henna design done on her hands. " Till today I get excited at the thought of getting henna done. People may think that we are old and won't be willing, but that's not the case, our face may look wrinkled but our spirit still feels young. I forgot any and every kind of trouble after putting henna on my hands!"
Flaunting her henna and gearing up to get her hair coloured, 70-year-old Suraiya Ali Ahmed said she has been in the UAE for 48 years but never had the joy of the parlour staff coming to pamper her at home. An outpatient at the centre, Suraiya comes to the centre every day to get treatment for back pain. "I went to a parlour six months back to get henna done but today the parlour staff walked up to me to pamper me free of charge, and I feel so good."
Though the pampering sessions were only for women, the men at the centre were excited to see the female counterparts getting makeovers and looking excited. "At least can we get a henna tattoo, if nothing," said a male in-house member to the beauticians, jokingly.
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Perfect timing
Fatim, 75, could not stop smiling as she got her hands decorated with henna. Her friend's son was getting married today and she was invited. "What perfect timing for these beauticians to come! Although I don't put make up, henna is something that makes up for that. And these beauticians are putting it so well, I am loving it."
It was a unique experience for Rachna staff members as it was the first time they had interacted with the elderly in the country. "It was soul stirring for me as I have never seen so many old people so full of life. The smiles that adorned their faces after we put henna and pampered them are so satisfying. I feel contented. I feel good that I could make them smile. All of them are so chatty and love talking that I felt I was sitting among little girls excited to put henna. And the appreciation we got from them just made our day."
Talking about the initiative, Rachna's marketing manager Sheynaz Talwariya said: "The main reason behind this initiative was to bring happiness and make them feel special. Everyone wants to look good and so do they. They may not have anyone to take them to parlour or may not be willing to take them for such pampering sessions. We, at Rachna, wanted to let them know that we care and that we are here to pamper them.
Also, I feel that more than them, it is we, who need them. They have such brilliant stories and advice for us from which we can learn so much. Their talks and experiences are priceless. And this is the message we want to give. All people should volunteer here and drop by to spend some time with them. Your time is the best gift."
I feel like a bride, says 89-year-old
The salon also held the CSR initiative at the Sharjah Old People's Home on Sunday. Over 15 ladies got henna decoration done on their hands.
An 89-year-old resident of the old people's home said:" I feel like a bride today," while another one added, "this henna takes me back to a little girl. It is all coming back to me. I am thankful to the team for making me feel like a child all over again."
Dr Salwa Alsuwaidi, director at the Family Gathering Centre, said: "This is a very kind initiative from Rachna Salon because everyone wants to look beautiful. If you look good, then you will feel good, and especially at their age, it is all the more required. They want to look better as it helps them get rid of depression, to elevate their self-esteem. Our aim is to promote active and graceful ageing and to make them feel included in the community." Dr Alsuwaidi concluded with an important message for the community: "We want to link the elderly with the community in a very positive way. They are a very important part of the community and shouldn't be ignored and neglected at this time. You may provide them with home, food and caregivers, but what they actually need is someone to talk to, someone who can listen to their stories. So people should come here, listen to them, give them a chance to speak and appreciate them."
saman@khaleejtimes.com
 
 
 

• Dubai